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Bangladesh
/ Transport
The transport
sector of Bangladesh consists of a variety of modes. The country
being a flat plain, all three modes of surface transport, i.e.
road, railway and water are widely used in carrying both passengers
and cargo.
More
than half of Bangladesh have access to an all-weather hard surface
road within 3 miles distance. There has been a dramatic expansion
of road network in recent years. In 1947 there were only 461.8
kilometers of metalled roads. In 1997, the total length of paved
road under the Roads and Highways Department stood at more than
20,000 kilometers. It is estimated that mechanized road transport
carry about 70% of the country’s total passenger and cargo volume.
In
recent years. construction of a number of bridges such as the
Bangabandhu Jamuna Bridge, Meghna Bridge. Meghna-Gumti Bridge,
Bangladesh-China Friendship Bridge, Shambhuganj Bridge and Mahananda
Bridge have been completed. The 4.8 km long Bangabandhu Bridge
which has been opened to traffic in June, 1998, is the eleventh
longest in the world. It has established a strategic link between
the East and the West of Bangladesh has integrated the country,
is generating multifaceted benefits to the people and promoting
inter-regional trade. Apart from quick movement of goods and passenger
traffic, it is faci1itating transmission of electricity and natural
gas and has integrated the telecommunication links.
About
32% of the total area of Bangladesh is effectively covered by
the railways. State-owned Bangladesh Railway operates a track
of 2706 kilometer, employs about 60,000 people, owns a fleet of
307 locomotives, 1240 coaching vehicles and I L643 freight wagons,
and provides passenger and cargo services through 502 stations.
About
two-thirds of Bangladesh is a wetland laced with a dense network
of rivers, canals and creeks. Water transport is the only means
available in nearly 10% of’ the total area. The navigable waterways
vary between 8372 kilometer during the monsoon to 5200 kilometer
during the dry season. Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority
has been established by the government for maintenance of navigability
of ports and channels while the state-owned BIWTC provide passenger
and cargo services in inland waterways and coastal areas of the
country.
The
entire coast along the Bay of Bengal is 710 kilometer long. There
are two major ports in the country. Chittagong, the oldest port,
has been an entry-port for at least 1000 years. The Mongla port
in Khulna region serves the western part of Bangladesh.
There
are now 11 operational airports in Bangladesh. These are Dhaka,
Barisal. Chittagomig. Comilla, Cox’ s Bazar, Ishurdi, Jessore,
Rajshahi, Syedpur, Sylhet and Thakurgaon. Of these, the airports
at Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet serve international routes. Air
careo and Short Take-oft and Landing (STOL) services have been
opened to the private sector by the government.
The
Civil Aviation Authority is a public sector entity entrusted to
construct, maintain and supervise airports and regulate air traffic.
The national flag carrier Biman flies to 26 international and
8 domestic destinations.
This page: http://www.cockatoo.com/bangladesh/e-01land/eb-lan21.htm
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